Foot ball down indicator



E. E. CLARK FOOT BALL DOWN INDICATOR April 19, 1955 Fi1ed March 28, 1952 A o 43o ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofce 2,706,352 Patented Apr. 19, 1955 FOOT BALL DOWN INDICATOR Ernest E. Clark, Stamford, Tex.

Application March 28, 1952, Serial No. 279,184

2 Claims. (Cl. 40-67) This invention has reference to an indicator of the changeable type, the primary object of the invention being to provide an indicator which may be conspicuously located on a foot ball playing ield so that it may be readily observed by the spectators and players to determine the number of downs remaining during a play or the down being played.

An important object of the invention is to provide an indicator of this character embodying four paddles which are pivotal within a housing, the paddles being consecutively numbered from 1 to 4, representing the number of downs allowed between the ten-yard markers on the foot ball field.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an indicator of this character wherein the paddles on which the indicia representing the downs, are provided, are spring biased, to both their closed or display positions, thereby providing paddles which will readily snap from the closed position to a display position or vice versa, by a slight pressure directed to the selecting pins of the paddles.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is an elevational view of a foot ball down indicator constructed in accordance with the invention, one of the paddles being shown in its extended position to indicate down 3. l

Fig. 2 is an edge elevational view of the housing with one of the paddles extended. f

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the opposite side edge the housing. l

Referring to the drawing in detail, the device comprises the housing indicated generally by the reference character 5f, `the housing being constructed of disc-like plates 6 held in spaced relation with respect to each other, by means of the curved plate 7, which is fitted in recesses formed in the peripheries of the disc-like plates 6. Bolts 8 extend through aligning openings in the disc-like plates 6, where they are secured to the disclike plates 6 by means of the nuts 9 secured to the bolts at the ends thereof. A similar bolt indicated by the reference character 10, connects the disc-like plates 6 adjacent to the upper portion of the housing, and this bolt 10 provides a support for the pivoted paddles 11, which are also disc-like in formation, and constructed to swing downwardly within the housing. Spacers 12 are litted on the bolt 10 between adjacent paddles, holding the paddles in proper spaced relation with respect to each other. As shown, each paddle is provided with an ear 13 in which an opening is formed, the openings of the ears accommodating the upper ends 14 of the hooks 15, the lower endsof the hooks 15 being connected with the coiled springs 16, which bias the hooks towards the bottom of the housing 5. The springs 16 have their lower ends connected with the bolt 8 at the bottom of the housing, the springs being normally tensioned. The locations of the openings of the ears 13,

are such that when the paddles are moved to their upper displaying positions, a direct pull will be exerted on the paddles to hold the paddles in such displaying positions against accidental displacement or movement to a position within the housing.

These paddles are provided with indicia representing the four downs allowed between the ten-yard markers of a foot ball field, to indicate to the spectators and players the number of the down or play being made.

Extending from the peripheries of the disc-like paddles are actuating pins 17 which are gripped by the operator of the down indicator, to give the initial movement of the discs to either their displaying or concealing positions, the pins providing means for effecting such movement of the discs. It will be obvious that the tension of the springs will be such that a direct pull will be exerted on the paddles at all times, so that when the paddles are extended to their displaying positions the springs will hold the paddles extended until it is desired to return the paddles to the housing. When the paddles are moved to concealed positions within the housing, the paddles will be normally held in such concealed position by the action of said springs.

Extending from the bottom of the housing is a supporting rod 18 which is provided with the telescoping section 19, the telescoping section 19 being held in various positions of adjustment along the rod 18, by means of the set screw 20 so that the height of the indicator may be regulated to the best advantage.

It might be further stated that the outer surfaces of the housing may be used in displaying advertisements which will be clearly visible when the device is in use in displaying the number of downs remaining during a play, or the down being played.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided an indicating device designed for indicating the downs or plays between ten-yard markers of a playing field, which may be permanently located on a playing field which will be conspicuous to the spectators and players. It will also be seen that due to the construction of the device it may be desirable for an attendant to carry the indicator for proper display of the paddles.

In operation, when it is desired to move a paddle to its indicating position, the actuating pin of that particular paddle is moved upwardly until the paddle is in its proper displaying position. The actuating pin may now be released, with the result that the spring connected with the particular indicating disc moved, will tend to exert sutiicient pull on the paddle moved, in a direct line, to normally hold the paddle extended.

To return the paddle to the housing the actuating pin of the extended paddle is pulled downwardly causing the paddle connected therewith to swing within the housing, the movement of the paddle being stopped by its contact with the curved plate 7.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. An indicator comprisingA a housing having an open side, a bolt extending transversely through the housing, a plurality of disc-like paddles pivotally mounted on said bolt within the housing adapted to swing through the open side of said housing, hooks having shanks curved around said bolt, each hook being secured to a paddle at a point between said bolt and edge of said paddle, coiled springs having one of their respective ends anchored within the housing directly opposite to said bolt, said coiled springs being connected to the other ends of said hooks normally biasing said paddles to either their closed or viewing position, and means for restricting movement of said paddles within said housing.

2. An indicator comprising a housing having an open side, a bolt extending transversely through the housing adjacent to the open side of the housing and at a point adjacent to the edge of said housing, a plurality of disclike paddles pivotally mounted on said bolt adjacent to the edges of said paddles, hooks connected with said paddles at points between said bolt and edges of said paddles, said hooks having curved shanks fitted around said pivot bolt, coiled springs connected with said hooks at one of their respective ends, the other ends of said springs being connected to the housing at points directly opposite to said pivot bolt normally holding said paddles against movement in their closed or viewing position, and pins extending through the open side of said housing connected with said paddles for effecting operation of said paddles.

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Welday July 13, 1926 

